Unyielding hearts: parental adaptation and resilience among families of children with autism in China

Introduction: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition characterized by persistent social communication difficulties, repetitive behaviors, and restricted interests. Although interventions may alleviate some symptoms, ongoing challenges in treatment, education, and social inclusion impose substantial physical and emotional burdens on parents, particularly in contexts with limited resources, such as China. Understanding parental positive adaptation is therefore critical for promoting family well-being. Methods: This qualitative study employed in-depth interviews and participant observation with 16 full-time caregivers of children with ASD (aged 0-18 years) in Wuhan, China, to examine their everyday experiences and adaptive processes. Guided by resilience theory, data were analyzed using situational and categorical analyses. Results: We identified motivational sources at individual, family, and societal levels, as well as adaptive strategies among successfully adapted parents, including active self-regulation, diverse social support networks, and proactive community engagement. Discussion: This study contributes a culturally grounded resilience framework for families of Chinese children with ASD and provides implications for social work practice, autism intervention, and policy development aimed at enhancing parental adaptation.